When our enemies heard…that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
–Nehemiah 4:15
God can do amazing things with people who refuse to quit, who take their eyes off their present circumstances and look ahead because they believe God has something great in store.
That’s what Nehemiah did when he was faced with a crisis in his wall-building work in Jerusalem. The enemies of God’s people plotted to stop their work, but God brought their plot to nothing. So Nehemiah looked ahead to the goal and sent everyone back to their work!
In other words, Nehemiah focused on the future. He refused to be discouraged by the present circumstances because he knew God was going to do something great.
Paul gives us the same encouragement in Philippians 3:13-14, when he says, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
If you’re discouraged today, think about this. God may just be letting you go through a down time to prepare you for a great victory tomorrow. So don’t let you head hang low! Lift your eyes and take a forward look. Because God’s blessing may be just around the corner!
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS SOMETHING GREAT IN STORE FOR YOU?